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Without a Hitch
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 07-29-12 10:52
Term had resumed without a hitch, though with a few additions to the study body. Over the break, the three Carter siblings, Broderick, Cai and Angharad had visited the castle and received a private sorting in Professor Dumbledore's office. Broderick and Cai Carter had both been sorted into Professor McGonagall's own house, Gryffindor, while Angharad Carter-Cardin had gone into Hufflepuff.
Professor McGonagall had met with all three of the new students and later again with the two Gryffindors, providing them with the same information and advice she gave all of the students who belonged to her house. When this Monday came around, she pulled the Gryffindor fifth year prefects aside, Jill Prewitt and Hunter Rabnott, and asked them to assist the new students as necessary.
The fifth year and seventh year students in her classes had truly begun to feel the pressure of the upcoming O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams. For them, Transfiguration classes would no longer cover any new material. Spring Term would consist of an intense review of everything the students had ever learned, since any form of Transfiguration, from the simplest to the most advanced, could appear on both the practical and written exams.
The sixth years, meanwhile, whose Wednesday afternoon class would be ending quite soon, were continuing with their year-long unit of Human Transfiguration.
"I want you all to consider what the difference is between transfiguring oneself into a creature and the transformation an animagus undergoes. How are they different? How are they the same? I would like you all to write an essay on the topic, due one week from today. A minimum of thirty-six inches, if you please."
A few of her sixth years groaned. The topic of animagi wasn't entirely new, having been introduced during third year Transfiguration. A short essay on the differences between typical Human Transfiguration and an animagus shouldn't be too difficult, but a longer essay would require much more thought.
Professor McGonagall glanced at them sharply and suggested, "Or perhaps the assignment should be due on Friday?"
No one dared comment.
"A week from today, then. You are dismissed."
The sixth years gathered their things together and then fled the Transfiguration classroom. Professor McGonagall did not have any more class meetings today, but her regularly scheduled office hours from 2-5 PM would take place as usual in her office. She fully expected students to visit, predominantly from her fifth and seventh year classes, with questions about the upcoming end of year exams.
Wandering Mind
Author: Jet
Date: 07-29-12 12:57
Certain people within the Ministry were not happy that Jet had submitted his resignation. His direct boss, the head of the Department of Mysteries, and others, including Minister of Magic himself Kingsley Shacklebolt had talks with Jet in an effort to dissuade him from leaving. As part of an incentive, he was offered placement in elsewhere but of the positions offered the only one that had the slightest appeal was working under Arthur Weasley in Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. Jet's parents encouraged him to take the job. Petra Karathanasis thought it would be a good fit for him. Jet nearly took the job but knowing that he wasn't being offered alternate positions because he's so indespensible to the Ministry, he told everyone no, he'd be moving on. If the Ministry wants to keep tabs on him, why make it easy?
At least no one tried to force him to stay. There was also no suggestion of keeping him in so called protective custody, at least not to his face. He's probably being monitored, at least periodically, but so far Jet has not felt as if he's being watched. While Jet would very much like an explanation for his second stint of missing time, his behavior have not altered nor has he had odd thoughts as he did when possessed, or whatever that was. In his opinion, the Ministry's attitude is overblown. It's not as if he spent those three weeks creating havoc and causing mischief somewhere, or at least nothing that has far for been reported.
Jet finds a table for two in Yellow, one of the St. Emrys canteens. He has taken a part-time job at the Astronomer's Nook in Diagon Alley and has a full course load here at the university. He'd taken a few classes at one time but got so involved with his then secret Blood Hound project at the Ministry in an effort to help locate Albus Dumbledore that time for and interest in coursework had quickly fallen by the wayside. Now, while considering all his options and while trying to decide what to do next with his life, Jet has seen no reason not to return to school full-time.
Between bites of a snack of fruit salad and lemonade, he rereads a Greek Mythology assignment but his mind isn't really on the words in front of him. He'd heard through Petra, who shouldn't have said a word to him now that he's not with the Department of Mysteries, about some girls who'd been trapped in objects for something like 25 years. Jet was in that crystal for about three years. Adjusting to his friends being physically older than him by three years and catching up on news and events he'd missed had been difficult. He cannot imagine how disorienting trying to adjust to a 25 year gap would be. Chronologically those girls are hardly girls any longer but physically and physiologically they are still just girls. Petra didn't know if they are plagued by anything along the lines of what he was, and perhaps still is, with the voice that called itself Sal, which might have been short for Salazar. She said she'd nose around and find out what more she could.
Glancing at the time, Jet sighs. He's let his mind wander far too much and far too long today. Finishing up his snack, he deposits the remnants in a bin and, with lemonade in hand, exits Yellow for his Greek Mythology class.
Do You Think…?
Author: Rowan Westwick
Date: 07-29-12 13:12
"Do you think we'll ever live here again?" Willow asked Rowan.
The two were standing in what had once been the dining room in their old family home. The entire house was still quite a mess and in need of serious repair, but they had steadily been making progress in making Westwick Grove habitable again. The improvements were no doubt thanks to the Finches, who felt that the regular visits to the old house helped the girls' healing process.
Rowan thought over the answer for a long moment. "Yes," she finally said.
"You do?" Willow asked, a mixture of doubt and hope evident in her voice.
"I do," Rowan said confidently. "But when all depends on whether or not we ever see Mum and Dad again."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, they won't let us live here as long as we're underage," Rowan replied. "So if we don't see our parents before I turn seventeen, then I doubt we will move back here... and as supportive as the Finches have been, I can't see them moving out of their place and taking up residence here just for our sakes."
Willow frowned. "But when you're of age, you can do whatever you want."
"Yeah," Rowan said, but she didn't think she'd want to live on her own at only seventeen years old either.
Willow knelt to sweep up shards of china from the floor. Rowan ran a wet cloth over the furniture pieces, some of which had remained undisturbed over the years. The Finches had managed to mend some things with magic, but the rest would either need professional care or replacing.
"Do you think we'll ever see them again?" Willow said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the two sisters while they worked.
"Mum and Dad?"
"And Ash," Willow added.
Rowan shook her head sadly. "I don't know, Willow. I don't know where they are, or if they even still exist. Maybe they got burned up in a fire or something."
Willow's frown only deepened. "Don't say that."
"I'm sorry," Rowan said. "It's just been a really long time since we were cursed, and I don't know how long we stayed together as a set. The others weren't in Borgin & Burkes with you and me."
"Are you sure?" Willow questioned.
Rowan shrugged. "I didn't search around too much. Mainly I saw you and got out of there before someone could accuse me of breaking and entering."
"You were breaking and exiting, though."
"Try explaining that to someone."
Willow actually cracked a smile, and then Rowan grinned too.
"Girls?"
Elgiva Finch poked her head into the dining room. "Do you want to head back now, or do you want to work for a little while longer?"
Rowan and Willow exchanged looks. "We want to stay a little longer," Rowan spoke for the both of them. "Is that okay?"
"It's perfectly fine," Elgiva replied, smiling. "I'll bring you a few more trash bags," she added, eyeing the bulging black sack leaning against the wall.
She stepped away, while Willow and Rowan resumed their project of tidying up the dining room at Westwick Grove.
Odiferous
Author: Kody
Date: 07-29-12 16:31
Three days into Spring Term and already Deak is ready for another break. Unfortunately, the going is only getting worse from here. Just under 7 weeks until NEWTs begin. For Deak, that means 10 courses with exams, a number of them in two parts. It's nice that Fitness & Athletics doesn't have a NEWT level exam. There was one once. Deak also does not take Care of Magical Creatures, though at times he regrets it as it does seem an interesting course. He's giving serious thought to taking a course or two of it at St. Emrys.
Then again, he's giving serious thought to taking a wide variety of courses his first term or two at university as he has no idea what he wants to read there. Having the uni allowing more time before having to make the major decision of what he wants to do with his life is something to be thankful for. Used to be, the pressure was on to have a career in mind in 5th year when it was time to turn in classes for 6th year because the NEWT level classes one took were generally based on what job one wanted to pursue after Hogwarts.
Rubbing hands over his eyes, Deak runs down a mental to do list. He's done with History of Magic homework except for a few pages left to read in the text. Herbology is nearly done. There's just some touching up to do and reading thought it completely to make sure he's not missed anything and finishing up the reading. Herbology got off to such a rocky start this school year that though things are improved, Deak finds he tends to be slower completing the out of class work and he continues to find the class itself somewhat tedious. At least in class he's always prepared and always gets the in-class assignment done without delay.
Astronomy is tomorrow night as well. With time in the morning and with time after Herbology before supper and Quidditch practice, he's got plenty of time to read what's on the syllabus for first class meeting back after holiday. There is homework from today's classes to get to but first there is dinner. There's also getting in some NEWT study. First, there is going to dinner. Deak just needs to pry himself from the bed where he'd flopped when coming in after getting in some NEWT study following Ancient Runes.
"Have you seen my other red trainer?" Edward Croft asks, his voice muffled because he's under his own bed, which is probably where he thought the trainer was.
"Yeah," Deak grunts, sitting up. "Or I think so. There's something red poking out from the curtains there."
Edward rolls out from under his bed. "Which window?"
"There."
Edward walks over to the window, pulling curtains aside then bends to pick up the trainer. "Ewwwww!" he exclaims, turning the shoe over, something very bright yellow dropping out in fat blobs.
"What is that?" Deak asks, making a face as some foul odor assaults his nose.
"No idea, but I'm betting I've Peeves to thank. You any good with a cleaning spell? I'm so bad at them that last time I tried one, the stain I was trying to get rid of tripled in size."
"I do well enough." Deak grabs his wand as he gets off the bed, trying not to breathe deeply as he approaches Edward. "Scourgify!"
Most of the thick slime vanishes, a few small globules visible on the floor and the stench still heavy in the air. A second scourgify has the remaining slime gone but at a loss about how to rid the room of the odor, going down to eat is delays as the two consult their Charms texts for something that will help.
Rylee Version 2.0
Author: Rylee
Date: 07-30-12 14:33
Digits slid through dark tresses as she curled up on her bed, it was Thursday which meant she'd be done at three-thirty especially since she doesn't have Astronomy tonight. The week had gone by somewhat uneventful, but she decidedly noted that there was less talk about her so far, then again there hadn't been any major events or various other things occurring that would cause various unflattering things to be said about her.
She'd enjoyed her spring holiday and spending Easter break with her sisters more so than her parents and she'd been glad for the round trip ticket for the plane because she wasn't going to travel via portkey with her parents who were already rather unhappy with their youngest daughter for taking after their eldest who had come to enjoy all things Muggle and is attending a Muggle University in New England.
At the moment she was lounging in her uniform skirt, trainers resting on the floor by her bed, and her shirt and tie hung on a hanger just inside her wardrobe. She'd grabbed something small for lunch in the Great Hall before heading down to Slytherin house before she would have to head out to the greenhouse for Herbology with Professor Ravenscroft.
Lixue hooted softly and she handed up a treat to the snowy owl and lightly ran her fingertips against the feathered chest. After a few minutes she handed the snowy owl an envelope to deliver, knowing well that it would be a day or so before the owl returned because she was sending a letter to her sister in France at Beauxbatons.
Letter done, she would turn her attention to her herbology essay and make sure that she had everything ready for it, before slipping the essay back into her notebook, and putting her notebook and textbook back into her messenger bag. She then took some time and got her uniform back in place, blouse and tie put on and then her robes on after a moment and a quick double check of her hair before she headed out to the Greenhouses.
She'd have to double check with Professor Miller on when the next meeting of the Muggle Studies Club would be or when the next event will be held.
(Mark) O.W.L. Year
Author: Isolde
Date: 07-30-12 17:57
Mark had yet to admit it, but he was starting to feel the pressure of the O.W.L. exams. He hadn't given the end of year, course and career-affecting exams any thought whatsoever over Easter holiday. He'd spent the break with his parents, surprised and amazed that not once had the phrase "that Hufflepuff girl" come up in conversation. Perhaps his parents truly believed he'd forgotten all about Kate.
Of course, it was quite the opposite. Mark had thought about Kate often and had been sorely tempted to write her during their time apart. It had been her idea to avoid all forms of communication, in case Mark's parents clued into the fact that their son had been lying to them all this time.
Their reunion on the Hogwarts Express still brought a smile to Mark's face, when he wasn't worrying over how many weeks remained until the start of the O.W.L. exams. Mark knew he shouldn't panic. It was still only April. If he studied everyday from now until the exams, then he should do all right.
He entered the Great Hall and walked over to the Slytherin table, where Johanna and Gus were already seated. They sat across from each other and seemed rather relaxed, considering the tension that had previously been between them.
"Hi," Mark greeted them. Instead of putting his book bag by his feet or on the bench next to him, he unloaded some parchment and a textbook.
Gus looked dumbfounded. "What are you doing? It's lunch time."
"I know," Mark said, but I've got one more class this afternoon."
"Oh," Gus said, nodding. "Scrambling to get your homework done before class starts. Been there, done that."
Mark shook his head. "It's not that," he replied. "I'm trying to study."
"Have a test, then?"
"No."
"He's studying for the O.W.L.s," Johanna explained to Gus, "which we would be taking this year too, had you-know-what not happened."
Gus didn't need her to explain it further. "Yeah," he simply said. Then he noticed Kate enter the Great Hall and waved her over. "Come sit with us Slytherins," he called out to her.
She came over and sat down next to Mark. "Hmm, maybe I shouldn't," she said then, observing his work. "I don't want to be a distraction."
"You're not," he told her, without looking up from his textbook. He blindly reached for a sandwich triangle and took a bite.
Kate laughed and helped herself to some lunch. "No Felicia today?" she asked Johanna.
Johanna shook her head. "I suspect a broom closet."
"Too dusty for eating lunch," Gus commented.
"I think they're skipping lunch and going straight to dessert," Johanna informed him.
Gus shook his head. "They better not let McGonagall catch them. We don't need to lose anymore points. Right, Mark?"
Mark murmured his agreement. It was pretty noisy in the Great Hall, and with his friends talking over him, he found he couldn't concentrate as much as he'd like. Since he was mainly just taking some notes, he supposed it didn't matter all that much.
And so he ate, half-listened to the conversations around him, and did what he could in preparation for the O.W.L.s.
At the Lake
Author: Liam Murray
Date: 07-31-12 13:23
"Liam, come and give us a hand!" Cody called out.
Liam stood up lazily from the grass, stretched his arms and went to the edge of the lake where Cody, Jake and Orville were. They were trying to lure the giant squid into the surface so they could take a photograph of the creature. Jake's sister was coming to Hogwarts next year and Jake had promised her to send photograph of the squid with him next to it. Liam thought that he could send the photo to his sister Emily too. She might like that.
"What do you need?" he asked.
"Just throw some food into the lake like Orville is doing," Jake instructed, posing for the photograph. Cody was holding the heavy camera that belonged to Jake's uncle.
Liam looked at the bucket Orville was holding. It was filled with fish and it had an intense smell.
"I'm not going to touch it!"
"Are you a girl or what?" Orville teased throwing another fish into the lake. There wasn't any movement whatsoever in the water but a little bit far away on the grass some students stopped to watch the four Gryffindors with curiosity. Disgusted Liam put his hand inside of the bucket and picked one of the slippery fishes and threw it to the lake. Nothing happened as well.
"Keep the fish coming, I'm sure soon the squid will appear…"
Liam and Orville obeyed to Jake.
"Are you sure squids like fish?"
"Yes, I went to the library and read about it," Cody explained, still holding the camera. "Behind you guys!" he suddenly yelled.
But it was too late. With one of its tentacles the squid provoked a wave that soaked Liam, Jake and Orville. The bucket with fishes was gone.
"Have you taken the photo?" Jake asked.
"I think so…" Cody said.
Meanwhile, the group of students nearby started to laugh teasing the group of friends. Liam recognized the Slytherin Lucy Lehane and her group of detestable friends. She was the one that was laughing the most. Liam and the others left to the castle with their wet robes. Orville was already sneezing.
"Better pray Filch and Mrs. Norris won't catch us or we will be into a big trouble!"
Wishful Thinking
Author: Furnella Hodfuffer
Date: 07-31-12 14:08
I'd been at the restaurant since the wee hours, leaving once just after the lunch rush to go home for Bogart and Bacall. I'd taken them to McFusty's for a check-up then returned to C&C to help prep for the evening. Phlagmelina shooed me out a moment ago and, with the four legged children to be picked up, I didn't protest. I'm still putting in more hours that some would like but as I've not been practically living out of the office, no one's made a huge issue of it.
The walk to McFusty's is short, just across the lane and past Dervish and Bangs. The dogs are so excited, both at having gotten lots of extra attention today and at seeing me again, I end up walking with them towards the Humbatas Stadium where I let them off leash to run and run, but only after I'd spelled a barrier they cannot go past. It's too late in the day for me to have to go chasing after them into the woods should something there catch their attention.
When both are flopped on the ground at my feet, tongue lolling, panting heavily, rolled on their backs for belly rubs, I know I have two happy puppies who should sleep well once home, at least for a few hours. Instead of disapparating for home right after I've obliged with the belly rubs, with leashes back on we return to the High. I leave them sprawled in one section of the restaurant's garden long enough to get them a bowl with water as well as a drink for myself.
Refreshed, we're ready to go home but returning to the garden from taking the water bowl in to be cleaned I find Max Black sitting at one of the tables, perusing a menu. "Hello, it's been awhile again. How have you been?"
"I wasn't expecting to see you. I was told you'd left for the day. I'm good. How are you?"
"I'm also well. Staying busy with this place, family, and those two over there." I indicate the now passed out Bacall and Bogart with a slight wave of a hand.
Max chuckles. "I didn't even see them there." He half rises, reaching to pull out one of the other chairs. "They don't seem to be in any rush to join me, at least for a bit."
With the dogs here with me there's no pressing reason to hurry home so I take the offered seat, nodding at the menu as I do. "The roast beef special tonight is the best you'll find, not that I'm biased."
The chuckle again. "Of course not. I'd actually had my eye on it. That and this stuffed trout with whiskey sauce."
"That is excellent as well."
"Join me. I'll get one, you have the other and then I can taste both."
My eyes go to the dogs, who have yet to move and from whom soft snores are emanating. I had thought to eat something at home but I see no reason not to accept Max's offer. "Yes, all right. Would you like a starter?"
"Do you have a preference?"
"Everything here is beyond good."
"Not that you're biased." Max flashes a grin then looks to the menu. "There are too many good choices."
Samantha emerges from inside, a bread basket in hand. "Sorry for the delay but these a just from the oven. I didn't know you were out here, Furnie."
"After picking up the dogs I let them run so we came to get water. I'll be staying a bit longer though. Be a dear and have them put a starter sampler together."
"Drinks?"
"A glass of the house red for me. Max?"
"Surprise me with one of the lagers you have on tap and I think we're pretty much decided on one of the roast beef specials and a stuffed trout."
"Got it."
I flash Samantha a smile, "Thank you."
When she's gone inside I ask Max, "How's the import-export business going?"
"Frustrating at the moment. I've a business partner who made a clerical error and ordered three times the quantity needed of these porcelain animal figures. They're nice figurines and good quality but we have been trying to find buyers for all the extra so in addition to the regular work load I've been traveling even more, parcelling out the figurines a bit here, a bit there."
Unlike last time we spoke when Max had little to say about work and was somewhat vague, this time he answers my questions and explains more about what he does. Throughout the meal, whenever I get a glimpse of those things about him that have reminded me of Forest, I feel guilty for wishing that it were Forest sitting here with me and not Max.